Young me - NOT amateur radio

Today, I got sent a picture of me taken at school about 1965. In those days I had hair!

Oh to be that age again. I seem to have changed a lot since then. I think it was originally part of a school photo.

I seem to recall having the lapel badge as I was a librarian in the 5th year.

Notre Dame Paris - NOT amateur radio

The images of this world famous cathedral last night looked horrific and I was dreading seeing the photos this morning. Precious medieval ceilings and the spire have gone, but I was surprised just how much managed to survive. It will be rebuilt, although I may not be around to see it finished. Thick 850 year old walls stand some treatment!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47945465

Breakfast - NOT amateur radio

For the last few days we have had one of our sons and his family staying here. For that period he got breakfast. Normally, I do breakfasts. It was a real treat.

The photo shows him eating his breakfast today. They have now gone home.

10m FT8 again

Yet again I am on 10m FT8. An earlier CQ call (2.5W) got no spots, but I have spotted 6 stations so far with best DX IU0MBJ (1471km). I suspect this latter one is Es.

UPDATE 1226z: So far today 8 stations in 4 countries spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

UPDATE 1820z: Now 10 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX.

Sunspots - Tuesday April 16th 2019

Solar flux is 74 and the sunspot number 11. A=8 and K=3.

Main Website

A reminder that my main website is at www.g3xbm.co.uk . Although not as frequently updated as this blog, it contains lots of data on my projects. At the bottom of most pages are links to further pages on the subject. If you are interested, you should find something to inspire you. Often my projects are simple ones.

Notre Dame fire (Paris) - NOT amateur radio

Notre Dame is a major cathedral in central Paris. As I write it is on fire and firefighters are battling to contain the fire.  For the French it is a major disaster, visited by millions every year.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47941794 .

76GHz Cubesat?

Anything above 432MHz seems beyond me. 76GHz seems positively stratospheric! Apparently, according to Southgate News there is a new Cubesat from Australia that uses 76GHz.

See http://southgatearc.org/news/2019/april/australian-cubesat-to-use-76-ghz.htm#.XLTFQPZFy00

Still waiting - NOT amateur radio

The earliest I have seen a swallow (bird) here is April 7th. It is now April 15th and I have still to see one here. These birds migrate, spending the winter in southern Africa. They fly around 6000 miles back here crossing seas and deserts. Often they come back to the very same nest!  The return of the swallow is an important date in my year. It is a sign that what has happened long before I was around is still going on. I patiently wait.

10m FT8

Since about 0900z I have been on 10m FT8 calling CQ initially. No spots as yet (1122z).

UPDATE 1744z:  Only 2 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 with best DX being DL1DH (715km) in Bavaria.

UPDATE 2011z: The pits!  Only 3 stations spotted all day on 10m FT8 RX